When you’re cleaning an accidental water spill, have you ever wondered why the water gets easily absorbed by the paper towel in your hand? Have you wondered what force could have caused this phenomenon to occur? This force where water is pulled and absorbed is called capillary action. Although this force can pull water against the force of gravity, it is because of an attraction between molecules of different substances known as adhesion that water can be pulled up. Examples of adhesion include: water adhering to your skin or hair, bubble gum sticking to almost anything dry, and peanut butter getting stuck on the roof of your mouth. Adhesion plays an important role in the ecosystem, especially in the water cycle.
When water falls to the surface
When water falls to the surface